MARCHING.COM: Mia Michaels master class set for day after WGI Color Guard Championships

Learn from Emmy-winning So You Think You Can Dance artist

DAYTON, OH, March 9, 2011 — WGI Sport of the Arts continues its "Day After" educational series with the announcement that contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels will conduct a master class in conjunction with the WGI Color Guard World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The class will take place on the floor of the UD Arena for 500 performers on Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 AM.

Unit directors can contact WGI to register their performers to experience a class led by one of today's leaders in contemporary dance. Those wishing to observe the class may purchase spectator tickets for $10 per person.

Michaels is fresh off her second Emmy win for outstanding choreography and she is regarded as the reigning queen of contemporary dance. Her work has been described as "personal, passionate, quirky, beautiful, challenging and uncompromisingly original." This marks her third appearance at the WGI Color Guard World Championships.

"Last time we had Mia for our Sunday dance class, we had an extraordinary amount of interest and sold out the number of spaces we had for dancers in minutes," said WGI Executive Director Ron Nankervis. "While we had a very successful turnout last year for Sonya Tayeh, the number of requests to have Mia back was overwhelming so it is with great excitement we welcome her back to color guard's premier event."

Ms. Michaels' involvement with WGI began when she was the guest clinician at Spinfest!! in 2007. Her inspirational and dynamic choreography was seen weekly on Fox's hit TV series So You Think You Can Dance and earned two Emmys for her artistry. Her passionate dance moves have graced the stage of Cirque Du Soleil's Delirium live music concert tour, and also the long-running Las Vegas theatrical production of Celine Dion...A New Day at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

WGI Sport of the Arts

Television network Bravo has announced a yet-to-be-titled reality series that will follow Michaels as she "navigates through the world of professional dance." She also choreographed on the March 7 episode of the television series House on the Fox Network.

Michaels has had the pleasure of working with such stars as Madonna, Prince, Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan, and she has created commercials for Coldwell Banker, Ziploc, WNBA, Star TV and VISA. She is the artistic director of The Pulse dance conventions and has held faculty positions with such prestigious dance institutions as Alvin Ailey and the Joffrey Ballet while continuing to teach master classes around the world.

For more information on Mia Michaels, visit her website at www.MiaMichaels.com.

Click here to order general admission spectator tickets to this special educational event.

View a YouTube video of Mia Michaels' choreography:

About WGI: WGI Sport of the Arts is the governing body for the indoor color guard and percussion activities. Hosting regionals, culminating with World Championships in April, WGI is the premier organization for pageantry and education. The Sport of the Arts brings music to life through competitive performance, creating a positive and exhilarating experience for everyone involved.

Source material and image courtesy of WGI.

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Mia Michaels master class set for day after WGI Color Guard Championships